Is there a Golden Age of television? Many insist it's always a relic of the past, but the truth is far more exciting. The real golden era is happening right now, where viewers are spoiled for choice with a vast library of classics alongside a constant stream of brilliant new content. As 2025 proves a challenging year in many respects, its television offerings provide a welcome silver—or rather, golden—lining. So, why not settle in over the holidays and explore this personal selection of the year's very best shows?
Drama & Genre-Defining Storytelling
Netflix's 'Adolescence' sparked national debate, even drawing commentary from the Prime Minister, yet it stands as one of 2025's defining dramas. Its young star, Owen Cooper, made history by becoming the youngest-ever male Emmy winner, securing the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. While some viewers questioned its 'toxic masculinity' narrative, the series' technical mastery is undeniable, with each episode filmed in a single, breathtaking unbroken take.
Meanwhile, Apple TV's 'Severance' graduated from cult favourite to mainstream phenomenon with its stellar second series in 2025. This unique blend of psychological drama, dystopian thriller, sci-fi, and comedy is unlike anything else on screen. It explores the chilling premise of employees at Lumon Industries undergoing a procedure to sever their work and personal lives, creating separate 'innie' and 'outie' identities. Led by compelling performances from Adam Scott and Britt Lower, it's a true original.
For crime drama aficionados, BBC iPlayer's 'Virdee' is a standout new entry. Set in Bradford, the UK's 2025 City of Culture, and adapted by author AA Dhand from his own novels, it brings fresh depth to the police procedural. DCI Harry Virdee, played by Staz Nair, is a Sikh officer estranged from his family after marrying a Muslim doctor, adding layers of personal complexity rarely seen in the genre.
The year also saw a magnificent farewell with the final series of 'The Newsreader' on BBC iPlayer. This superb Australian drama, set in the 1980s, is a masterclass in period detail and nuanced performance. It follows the brilliantly portrayed professional and personal entanglement between news anchors Helen Norville and Dale Jennings, wrapping up its story with immense satisfaction.
Unmissable Entertainment & Thrillers
In the realm of reality and game shows, the BBC's 'The Traitors' and 'Celebrity Traitors' dominated 2025. Claudia Winkleman's expertly hosted series of deception became the winter's essential appointment-to-view. The celebrity edition, won by Alan Carr after his shocking 'murder' of Paloma Faith and Celia Imrie, elevated the format to new heights of addictive entertainment.
Travel programming found its peak with 'Rob & Rylan's Passage to India' on BBC iPlayer. Following their BAFTA-winning 'Grand Tour', the unlikely duo of Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder proved their chemistry is television gold. Their journey was funnier, smarter, and more moving than the standard 'celeblogue', cementing them as a top-tier double act.
For edge-of-your-seat tension, Sky's 'All Her Fault' was arguably the year's finest thriller. Featuring Sarah Snook and Jake Lacy as privileged parents whose young son vanishes within the first two minutes, the plot is a clever, pacey masterpiece. With stellar support from Dakota Fanning and Michael Peña, it's an absolute must-watch.
Comedy, Satire & Costume Drama
Comedy had a strong year, with 'Amandaland' on BBC iPlayer proving a surprise hit. A spin-off from 'Motherland' focusing on the ghastly alpha-mum Amanda, played by Lucy Punch, it delivered consistent wit and frequent laugh-out-loud moments. A second series is eagerly awaited.
Satire also scored a direct hit with Sky's 'Mountainhead'. This extraordinarily timely feature-length takedown of tech-bro culture, from 'Succession' creator Jesse Armstrong, divided critics but left a lasting impression. It follows obscenely wealthy tech titans on a disastrous lads' weekend, descending into mercilessly wicked humour.
Finally, for pure class, 'Miss Austen' on BBC iPlayer was the year's standout costume drama. In the 250th anniversary year of Jane Austen's birth, Keeley Hawes gave a graceful, steely performance as the author's sister, Cassandra. Devoid of flashy modern gimmicks, it represented the BBC's traditional drama craft at its very best.
Ten Honourable Mentions for Your Watchlist
The year's riches extended far beyond the top picks. Here are ten more exceptional shows that deserve your attention:
- The Beast In Me (Netflix): A psychodrama featuring a superbly chilling performance from Matthew Rhys.
- Bookish (Sky/Now): A smart 'cosy crime' series that deserved a wider audience.
- The Forsytes (Channel 5): Glossy, on-trend costume escapism.
- The Four Seasons (Netflix): Tina Fey's hugely entertaining reworking of the 1981 film.
- The Girlfriend (Amazon Prime Video): An irresistibly twisty dark drama starring Robin Wright.
- The Parisian Agency (Netflix): Television's most charming (and stylish) reality TV realtors.
- Your Friends And Neighbours (Apple TV): A darkly funny drama about a middle-aged meltdown, starring Jon Hamm.
- Stick (Apple TV): A feel-good, golf-themed comedy drama with Owen Wilson as a turbo-charged charmer.
- Riot Women (BBC iPlayer): A brilliant series from Sally Wainwright that is not to be missed.
- Pluribus (Apple TV): A clever new show from the creator of 'Breaking Bad'.
From groundbreaking dramas to hilarious comedies and addictive reality formats, 2025's television landscape offers unparalleled quality and variety. The evidence is clear: when it comes to must-watch TV, the Golden Age is now.
